I have little, important, factual information about the traffic on the Russian waterways. I am aware that Moscow being the "Port of Five Seas," that obviously water transport is possible from the Caspian, the Black, and the Azof Sea in the south, to the Baltic and White Seas in the north. From my observation, this traffic consisted mostly of freighters and various tankers. Only occasionally did we see passenger ships as well.

The ILYA REPIN and the many other vessels we saw of her type had, apparently been built in Austria. ... (more)